What Are the Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt

Salt is salt, right? Actually, there are several kinds of salt each with their own chemical makeup and properties. The salt that all of us are familiar with, table salt, is made up of sodium and chlorine. It also has iodine added to it to prevent against iodine deficiency and the health issues that come along with it like hypothyroidism. What are the benefits of pink himalayan salt in particular?

What is pink Himalayan salt?

Another type of salt you might be familiar with is pink Himalayan salt. This special salt is harvested in Pakistan from the Khewra salt mine, the second largest salt mine in the world. So what makes pink Himalayan salt different than table salt?

Well, the first difference is quite obvious… it’s PINK! This pink color comes from the trace amounts of iron oxide (rust) found in the salt. Pink Himalayan salt also contains minerals that are not found in table salt such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Some people estimate it may contain up to 84 different minerals and trace elements. It also contains slightly lower amounts of sodium than regular salt. Lastly, some people report that pink Himalayan salt has a different flavor than table salt, which would make sense since it contains all those extra minerals.

What are the Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt?

Salt has been used for thousands of years for everything from preserving food to being a form of currency. And we’re still finding new uses for it. Many individuals use pink Himalayan salt for home remedies and for its supposed health benefits. Two of the most popular uses are to soothe sore muscles and alleviating respiratory problems. Using salt dens/caves as a treatment for lung diseases has even been evaluated in recent studies. 

Some other commonly promoted health claims include:

• Balancing your body’s pH
• Improving skin conditions
• Reducing signs of aging
• Improving sleep quality
• Regulating blood sugar
• Increasing libido

The jury is still out when it comes to some of these claims but there’s certainly no harm in engaging in a little halotherapy in the meantime!

How can you use Pink Himalayan Salt?

There are several ways to incorporate pink Himalayan salt into your daily life so that you can reap the rewards.

1. Cook With It

First off, you can cook with it just as you would with regular salt. There may be a slight taste difference for some people and you may need to alter the amount you use, but it’s a very easy switch! 

Try: Sherpa Pink Gourmet Himalayan Salt – $14.99

2. Soak it in.

Another way to soak up the benefits of pink Himalayan salt is to literally soak it in! Add it to your bath in its natural form or get a bath bomb that has it as an ingredient. Either one can help improve skin conditions and soothe any sore muscles you might have.

Try: Dr Teal’s Restore & Replenish Pink Himalayan Mineral Soak – $5.58

3. Watch it glow.

If you’re concerned about air pollutants in your home or office space, get a salt lamp. Salt lamps consist of large blocks of salt with an inner light source that heats the salt. Manufacturers and users of the lamps claim they release helpful negative ions into the room that clean the air and remove pollutants.

Try: Himalayan Glow Salt Lamp – $16.99

4. Go inside it!

Finally, if you want a relaxing and healthy afternoon getaway visit your local salt cave or salt den. Salt caves are popping up all over the place as more and more people rave about their experiences. Man-made salt caves are formed out of pink Himalayan salt and are temperature and humidity controlled. Most of these caves employ the use of a halogenerator which grinds salt into microscopic particles and releases them into the air. Proponents claim that this environment breaks up mucus, reduces inflammation, and absorbs irritants from the respiratory system. The salt will also absorb bacteria and allergens which can be beneficial to your skin as well!